breabooks's reviews
172 reviews

This is a heart-warming fantasy with characters and magical setting reminiscent of studio ghibli stories. Foss is a homely butcher’s daughter in a kingdom that harvests its inhabitants hearts to maintain prosperity. Everyone is fine with this sacrifice as hearts are usually taken in increments by the city’s Sorceresses, that is until Foss is entranced by a Sorcerer. She is not okay with the annoying heartsickness, thank you very much. Foss leaves to travel to the city to find for the Sorcerer, Sylvester, and get her heart back. She ends up staying as his housekeeper since the close proximity makes her heart hurt less. Foss soon discovers there’s much more to the Sorcerer (and his sister Sorcereresses) and the heart magic than she originally thought. 

The books is written in a fun vernacular that is both easy to read and the harsh no-nonsense of the assumed “lower” class. Sometimes Foss will break the fourth wall. I really enjoyed the overall story. The world was crazy unique but similar to other stories (studio ghibli, specially Howl’s Moving Castle). It was mostly cozy until it’s really not… but still a fantastic plot. The romance was absolutely precious. I was literally in tears over one scene. It was so fun to watch Foss realize her true beauty. 

I absolutely recommend this book. It’s cute, fast, sweet, intense, and absolutely magical. 

Thank you Erewhon and NetGalley for the egalley. 

This was a fun story based on Slavic folklore with major Howl’s Moving Castle vibes. Marisha lives in Chernozemyla, a land inflicted with an ancient sleeping plague. Every ten years on the dot people fall asleep. Both of Marisha’s parents are deep sleepers (people who sleep for more than a year) and her brother left her. Marisha escapes an inevitable arranged marriage at the hands of her awful Aunt by becoming an apprentice to an apprentice for a Koldunya. This particular Koldunya, Baba Zima, controls n orange chicken-legged house that travels from city to city. Baba Zima’s apprentice, Olena, is trying to find a cure for the plague. Marisha must overcome her disbelief of magic to help pursue a cure. 

This book is very character driven. If someone does not enjoy character driven books, they will not enjoy this book. I’m not a huge fan of character driven stories, but the folklore was so dang good. The plot takes a back seat to the story told through Baba Zima, Marisha, Olena, and eventually Valdim. The pacing is a little skewed. The book starts off very strong, is incredibly slow, and is non-stop through the last 20%. I really enjoyed the last 20% of the book. I wish there would have been more character development between the two couples. I feel like there was a lot of potential between both love interests to further explore those particular characters. I feel that with some consolidation (the book is over 500 pages) this story would be even more enjoyable. 

I enjoyed the book and will definitely recommend it as long as the readers are okay with a slow pace and character driven story. 3.75 stars

Thank you SO much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the early copy. 

Um, hello? Why isn’t there more hype about this book? It’s a magical Bridgerton-ish love story! I listened to the audiobook on kindle unlimited and it was fantastic! I do wish that, since there were two narrators, that the male narrator would have voiced the male parts during Lizzie’s chapters and vice verse. 

The romance was absolutely fantastic. The story was engaging, especially once the more fantasy side of the plot came around. This was such a cozy, feel-good listen/read. 

“I had at some point come to think of Lizzy as my own. Not oafishly, in the sense of wanting to control her. But having some claim to the privilege of hearing her voice. Of knowing her thoughts. Of walking beside her, be it to the dance floor, to the church, or to the ends of the earth. There’s a name for that, man.”
I mean COME ON 😩🫠

3.5? This book had a major identity crisis. It’s listed as sci-fi/fantasy and mystery/thriller on NetGalley and Goodreads. It is most definitely not sci-do fantasy by any stretch of the imagination. There were more horror elements in it than whatever the publisher thought constituted sci-fi/fantasy. I rate books a 3 when I like the book but I had some major issues with it and don’t see myself rereading it or thinking about it again. 

The overall story itself was great, but the pacing was all over the place. It started off interesting with lots of mystery and some almost horror aspects, was boring until about the 60% mark, and was back to faster pacing and thriller status towards the end. All the twists and action happened in the last 15%. 

All the characters are very traumatized, so it’s a hard start if you’ve ever suffered a similar familial loss. I’m not sure how to put it but James did a lot of self-reflection without any actual change until the very end. It was repetitive and become boring. However, the plot was good! Just not the absolute best?

I also wish the owl motif was explored more. 

Thanks to Delacorte Press for the advanced digital galley. 

Cute, fun, silly, Christmasy. All the good things 🤌🏼

3.5 stars? I’m torn. I really really enjoyed the concept. The story was fantastic- a fresh take on Norse mythology infused with draugr (vampires). The writing was beautiful. I cried at a certain beautifully heartbreaking part. The romance was beautiful. I was so into the book my husband actually asked if I was enjoying it. Apparently I couldn’t put it down!

HOWEVER

Spoilers, sort of. The book is supposed to be young adult/new adult, reads like a YA with Astrid’s thoughts, and reads like an adult book with the prose. It had me super confused. I would picture Astrid as a teenager, then an adult, then she’d do some real stupid teenage stuff. Ok REAL spoiler: I get that she’s technically Skaga reborn, but good grief either act like an adult or act like a child. The 50% mark had me LIVID.